Recent data shows that work-life balance is the most coveted career goal for many - in fact, in a survey of over 9000 people conducted in 2021, almost two thirds of job-seekers said that work-life balance was more important than pay and benefits. And it’s not hard to see why. Rates of occupational burnout are at an all time high, and with job security no longer a given, fewer of us are prepared to sacrifice so much of our lives for our work in the way that previous generations might have.

But work-life balance is an elusive term. It’s hard to define and it’s even harder to achieve, especially in our modern digital world where it’s all too easy to always be working.

So, how can we get clear on what we’re aiming for? And more importantly, how do we achieve a work-life balance that works for us?

Redefining Work-Life Balance

Let’s start with the phrase ‘work-life balance’. While the intention of finding balance is certainly a noble one, perhaps the term itself isn’t always useful. First of all, it implies we’re only trying to balance two things: work and life, but we know that isn’t the case. Our lives are much more complicated and multifaceted than that. Under the ‘work’ category you might be trying to juggle all sorts of conflicting pressures - your day-to-day duties, additional projects, line management responsibilities, training, your own career development, for example. And of course, ‘life’ encompasses so much more than that one small word gives credit to - maintaining a social life, taking care of our health, caregiving responsibilities, domestic duties, hobbies, leisure time, etc. Every single one of us will have a unique pile of stuff that falls into each of those two categories, which is why so much of the advice on achieving a work-life balance can feel reductive or unrealistic.

And the word balance suggests that we should have a perfect equilibrium between both work and life, something which not everyone is aiming for. Perhaps you’re in a stage of life where you’re really enjoying your career and you’re happy to intentionally give it more space, or maybe you’re striving to work as little as possible in this season so that you’ve got more room to enjoy the other parts of your life.

Perhaps a more useful term is ‘work-life blend’. The idea of blending the two leaves space to acknowledge that the desired blend will look different for each of us, and that it might change over time. The key is to be intentional: to get clear on what we’re actually aiming for in this season of life, and to make sure that aim is rooted in our own personal roles, responsibilities and ambitions.

A process to find your work-life balance

So, now that we’ve explored what work-life balance actually is, how can we go about intentionally finding more of it? This process should help you do just that…

What Are You Trying to Balance?

Start by taking a moment to reflect on what you’re actually balancing. What makes up your work-life blend? In your career, you might be managing multiple projects, dealing with a variety of teams, focusing on your personal growth, or simply just trying to get to the bottom of your to-do list. Whatever it is, write it all down.

Then, do the same with your life. What is important to you in this season of life? Perhaps you have caregiving responsibilities, maybe you want to pour more energy into pursuing hobbies, or perhaps health is a big focus. Write down all of the things you’re trying to give some attention to.

Then, take a step back. How does it feel to see it all written down? Recognising the multitude of roles you play can give you a greater sense of self-compassion and help you appreciate the magnitude of what you’re juggling. And while that simple appreciation might not take anything off your to-do list, what it will do is stop you from spending precious time and energy being your own harshest critic.

Assess Your Current Juggling Act

Once you’ve got some clarity on what currently makes up your work-life blend, it’s time to put it under the microscope. What tasks, responsibilities or goals have you taken on intentionally? What might have been added without your consent? What on your list still feels important to you? What would you be happy to let go of or spend less time on?

At this stage, be sure to consider both your own expectations and the expectations of others. You’ll never achieve a healthy work-life balance if you’re trying to make everybody happy, so try to focus on the things that are most important to you and move anything else to the bottom of your list.

Remember Your ‘Why’

One of the best ways to positively and meaningfully shift our work-life blend is to get clear on our ‘why’. The best way to do this is to zoom out. Try and visualise the sort of life and career you want to have ten years in the future. What are you working on? How are you spending your days? How do you feel? Build a vivid picture of your long-term vision.

Then, sense check your priorities now with that vision. If you dream of having freedom and flexibility, it might make sense to spend more time on your side hustle than it does on excelling in your day job right now. If in your future vision, time with family is key, perhaps you might like to start prioritising that now so that it becomes your norm.

It can also help to think about how your work supports your wider ‘why’. For example, if your ‘why’ is to feel happy and fulfilled, your work should be adding to that sense of fulfilment and creating opportunities for happiness, instead of feeling like an obstacle to it.

Get Intentional

Once you know what your priorities are and you’re clear on your ‘why’, try to use that information when it comes to making decisions about what to add into your blend. For instance, if your aim in this season of life is to get that promotion or advance your career in some way, think about how you can create the time and space for that to happen. Maybe that means turning down the social invites that don’t really excite you, or pressing pause on some of your personal goals while you finish that project.

Or if right now your priority is freedom, take the opportunities for freedom that you have - book your annual leave, make sure you leave work on time, turn down additional projects that would have you sitting at your desk for longer than you’d like.

There’s no one right way to balance our competing priorities - all we can endeavour to do is make intentional decisions that reflect our realities at any given moment. And remember, even though it might not always feel like it, we always have a choice about where we spend our time and energy.

Accept That Things Will Change

Finally, accept that you’ll never land on a perfect work-life balance that will work forever. We all go through different seasons of life, and our capacity and priorities will change as a result. For example, many people find that work is their biggest focus in their twenties and life takes a bigger priority in their thirties, before swinging back to putting more emphasis on their careers in their forties. Maybe you’re following a different pattern completely - that’s okay. What matters is that we acknowledge that our priorities ebb and flow, and we have to change our focus to accommodate that.

Being flexible is one of the most vital steps in ensuring you find a work-life blend or balance that works for you.

To summarise, resetting your work-life balance is an ongoing journey that requires reflection, intention, and a willingness to be flexible. But by understanding what’s important to you, and making small changes, you can create a more balanced and fulfilling life. The key is to focus on YOUR goals and priorities and not to waste time and energy chasing anybody else’s.

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